Abstract
Field experiments were conducted at Baga during three cold and dry harmattan seasons to investigate the optimum planting date, seed rate and N level for irrigated barley, variety Ketch. Barley crops planted at fortnightly intervals during each season showed that optimum grain yields could be obtained if drilling was completed before the end of November. Barley sown in December suffered a significant yield loss; it showed a definite positive response to N fertilizer application. Grain yields increased with increase in N fertilization from zero to 100 kg N ha-1. Plant height, numbers of tillers and spikes, length of spikes and number of grains spike-1 were also directly related to N level. However, grain yields were highest at the lowest seed rate of 100 kg ha-1 in all seasons. Plant height and yield components were also inversely related to seed rate
